After the weekend’s near-complete washout, the rain stayed away from Chesterfield, and Gloucestershire accumulated maximum batting points. The day was dominated by a stand of 233 for the third wicket between Hamish Marshall and Alex Gidman, yet despite a healthy scoring rate and some lovely shots from the unhurried, languid Marshall, it was a partnership that chimed with its muted match setting.
Marshall’s composed confidence and array of drives was often in stark contrast to Gidman’s lack of fluency. The Gloucestershire captain never looked settled, inside-edging for four more than once, yet went on to record his second century of the season. Last year he passed 50 once.
The pace stepped up after tea, when the new ball brought immediate rewards. Marshall, on 158, ten short of his highest score in first-class cricket, made his only mistake, edging a ball from Ian Hunter to James Pipe, and Gidman lost his off stump to Wavell Hinds, giving the Jamaican his first wicket in any form of cricket this season.
Gloucestershire: First Innings
K Ali c Lawson b Hunter 0
G P Hodnett c Park b Wagg 31
H J H Marshall c Pipe b Hunter 158
*A P R Gidman b Hinds 135
C G Taylor not out 38
C M Spearman b Lungley 16
†S D Snell not out 4
Extras (b 3, lb 8, w 10) 21
Total (5 wkts dec, 107.5 overs) 403
J Lewis, A J Ireland, S P Kirby and R K J Dawson did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-73, 3-306, 4-361, 5-390.
Bowling: Wagg 24-5-71-1; Hunter 15-3-65-2; Lungley 20.5-0-88-1; Smith 17-2-64-0; Lawson 10-0-46-0; Hinds 11-1-28-1; Park 10-0-30-0.
Derbyshire: First Innings
S D Stubbings not out 2
*C J L Rogers not out 17
Extras 0
Total (no wkt, 3 overs) 19
G T Park, D J Redfern, W W Hinds, G M Smith, †D J Pipe, G G Wagg, T Lungley, M A K Lawson and I D Hunter to bat.
Bowling: Kirby 2-0-5-0; Ireland 1-0-14-0.
Umpires: S A Garratt and M A Gough.